Lenny Lamb Buckle Onbuhimo – Tips and Tricks

Buckle Onbuhimos are a variation of a traditional Asian carrier called an onbuhimo. They resemble a soft-structured carrier (SSC) without a waistband. For more information on the background of this carrier, see notyourpodbutai.tumblr.com.

Onbuhimos are primarily used for back carries and should be use when baby:

Fits in the carrier knee to knee, not overextended and head above top of carrier with no additional modifications (in the case of the LL onbuhimo, using the included drawstrings to adjust width and height is fine!)

Is sitting independently

Is OK with being primarily “arms out” in a carrier

Things to note about your Lenny Lamb (or other brand) onbuhimo:

The onbuhimo is a carrier meant to be worn HIGH, more similar to a wrap in height of carry than an SSC. This is both for safety (looser straps mean large open side gaps that baby can find their way out of if they try!) and comfort (loose onbuhimo straps will tend to distribute weight very uncomfortably on the wearer).

Babies worn in an onbuhimo should typically be worn “arms out”. This also ensures that the side gaps are closed off and baby cannot easily lean or wiggle themselves through the opening.

Ways to make your buckle onbuhimo more comfortable:

Be sure that the carrier is high and tight.

Get familiar with all the ways all the buckles adjust. Some are “dual adjust” meaning you can slide the buckle itself to a different position depending on how tight you make each side. This is a great way to fix, for example, when straps are tight enough but the buckle itself rubs you in an odd spot.

Be sure the carrier height and width are adjusted for your child. It should be knee to knee width or smaller, with your child able to freely bend their legs. Ideally, your child’s arms should be out over the top of the carrier. (NOTE: Not all onbuhimos have an adjustable panel! In some cases, you may need to just wait until your child fits the carrier, as it should not be modified to fit further than included modifications (buckles, ties, etc) allow.

If the panel needs to be shorter to be the right height, you can slide the whole panel so that more fabric is between you and baby.

Because an onbuhimo has no waist band or chest support (a chest clip is for strap placement and security, not support!), all the weight will be on the wearer’s shoulders. For this reason, it may not be the best carrier for those with back or shoulder issues or for longer periods of wearing. Or, in those cases, it may require more careful adjustment to be comfortable for both child and wearer.